The Press., 1887-08-25
WASHINGTON LETTER.

b. Washington, D. O., Aug. 1s, 1ss7 2 I think the tarIf is the only issue by which the republicans can ever hope to break the solid south, and even securing the result by that method will be distress ingly slow. It is interesting toobserve the graceful evolution of certain southern congressman upon the question of the pro- tectiye tariff. Gases in point are those of the three gentlemen who have represented the Birmingham, Alabama, district in the past few years all of whom weresoriginal- ly elected as pronounced free e-traders. Af- ter serving two terms MT. Hewitt became a convert to protection, yet he was given two more terms, in the hope that he would repudiate the doctrine; failing to do so, however, he was replaced with Mir. Mar tin, who duplicated the course of his pre- decessor; after two terms he was succeed ed by MT. Bankhead, who, although he has not yet taken his seat, now declares himself in favor of Ca tariff for revenue only with protection to American indus tries" From every direction I hear noth- ing but the sternest censure of the pro- posed purchase of bonds at premium by Secretary Fairchild. Nowhere does the scheme find favor except in Wall-st., and I understand the secretary is receiving five hundred letters a day protesting against this course, and, also, that great pressure is being brought to bear upon the presi- dent to have him revoke the bond circular, but, unless something extraordinary oc- CUTS, do not think there will be any change until the meeting of congress, if then.
 Secretary Whitney awarded contracts for the construction of three new cruisers and gunboats thistweek, at total cost of little over five million dollars. The sas- signees of John Roach (Palmer & O., of New York; secure the contract to build the gunboats cruisers, Nos. and 4, to Cramp & Sons, and No. 5 the Union Iron Works of San Francisco, in accordance with the act of congress, that one of the cruisers should be built on the Pacific coast. The secretary of the navy has or dered that the sum of $75, ,OOO be expended for the purchase of a plant and tools for the New York navy yard, and that the same sum be spent on the Norfolk navy yard for the same purpose, under an act of congress authorizing the secretary tON1is- purse that amount in the improvement of such navy yards as he might select.
 The secretary of the interior has render ed most important decision in reference to the land grants of railroad corporations, in which he revokes the order of his pre- predecessor withdrawing from settlement, under the homestead and pre-emption laws, the indemnity. lands granted by con- gress conditionally to the Atlantic and Pa cific Railroad Company. This grant was made by the act of July 27th, 1866. This opens an immense tract of land to settlers fourteen and half millions of acres in Arizona and New Mexico alone-and that is but a small portion of it. The order will affect several other railroads besides the Atlantic & Pacific, and the results can but be far-reaching.
 Wm. Fl. Council, of Alabama, promi- nent and intelligent colored school-teach CT, has been forced by outrageous persecu- tion from the southern chivalry to resign his lucrative position, simply because he had complained to the interstate commis- sion of not being permitted to ride in first class cars when paying full fare.
 Frederick Douglass, who has recently returned from g delightful and extensive tour of Europe, where he was everywhere treated as 8 gentleman regardless of the color of skin, will soon be honored with a public banquet by his admirers in this city. This, the noblest type of 8 redeem ed race, is full worthy of any honor that can be bestowed upon him.